“It feels bad,” he said with a gallows-humor grin.

“A couple of great communicators – Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton – were standing at this podium two years into their presidency getting very similar questions because the economy wasn’t working,” said Obama, who became increasingly introspective as the press conference wore on.

“I think every president needs to go through this,” he said, quickly adding: “I’m not recommending every president take a shellacking” like this one, the worst mid-term losses by a party in seven decades.

Obama said he’s doing “a whole lot of reflecting” about his decision-making since taking office nearly two years ago.

He cast Tuesday’s results as confirmation that “people are frustrated, deeply frustrated about the pace of our recovery” – and predicted a difficult partisan fight over spending bills and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts.

...

Acknowledging the disappointment of his reform-minded 2008 supporters, Obama blamed part of the Democratic debacle on his inability to challenge business-as-usual in Washington, especially the use of earmarks and the backroom deals cut to pass health care reform.

“We were in such a hurry to get things done, we didn’t change how things were done,” conceded Obama.


The president didn’t push back when a reporter suggested the results represented a rejection of his presidency or his agenda.

“There is no doubt that people’s number one concern is the economy,” “They understand that I’m the President of the United States and it’s my responsibility… So I’ve got to take direct responsibility that we have not made enough progress that we needed to make.”


Tuesday was a “a long night for a lot of us – and needless to say it was for me,” he added. “Some election nights are more fun than others. Some are exhilarating and some are humbling.”

Democrats lost between 64 and 67 seats in the House – more than making up for the huge gains they made during the 2006 and 2008 cycles. The president’s party lost control of nine state houses – but managed to keep their majority in the Senate despite the loss of between six and eight seats.

But Obama, who is scheduled to leave for an extended trip to Asia on Friday, offered little regret over the massive government programs his administration pushed through when they held commanding majorities in both houses.

At the same time, he offered an olive branch of sorts to House Minority Leader and likely House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on spending, saying he was eager to reach a compromise with them on curbing the runaway federal deficit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

Based on this article, I'd say that there is the possibility that he'll do a Clinton

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ORIGINAL: EternalHoH

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

Based on this article, I'd say that there is the possibility that he'll do a Clinton

Remember, Obama doesn't have the Randite in charge of the money supply that Clinton had. Since Obama and Bernanke are still dealing with the aftermath of that, he/they pretty much cannot fulfill the role as Bubble Economy Rainmaker on Main St. ......  Much to the disappointment of many expecting him to 'do a Clinton'.

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ORIGINAL: truckinslave

I missed it too (day sleeper) but the consensus I have picked up is that he pretty clearly blamed the economy, not the myriad policies, great and small, passed and failed, that have hurt the popularity of both himself and his party.

I give as much weight to any claim of moderation as I do to previous claims of attempts at bipartisanship. He'll have to show me. Starting with the Buxh tax cuts.

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ORIGINAL: DomKen

Of course the neo con definition of moderate is a Democrat who does exactly what neo cons want.

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ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

Of course the neo con definition of moderate is a Democrat who does exactly what neo cons want.

Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

We call them RINO's, though.

Firm

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

Of course the neo con definition of moderate is a Democrat who does exactly what neo cons want.

Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

We call them RINO's, though.

Firm

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

Of course the neo con definition of moderate is a Democrat who does exactly what neo cons want.

Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

We call them RINO's, though.

Firm

Speaking as a Democrat we call a Republican reasonable when they negotiate in good faith and vote for bills that they got most of what they wanted. Unlike the entire present batch.

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ORIGINAL: mrbob726

of course, in Chicago, they voted in the original pay for play politician of them all - Berrios - I'm glad I don't live in cook county - 

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Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

quote:

ORIGINAL: truckinslave

quote:

Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

I gotta go to the dictionary, Firm.
I thought that was the definition of bipartisanship.

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ORIGINAL: KenDckey

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

Of course the neo con definition of moderate is a Democrat who does exactly what neo cons want.

Of course, the definition of a "reasonable Republican" to a Democrat is one that votes the majority of the time with the Democrats.

We call them RINO's, though.

Firm

Speaking as a Democrat we call a Republican reasonable when they negotiate in good faith and vote for bills that they got most of what they wanted. Unlike the entire present batch.

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the Democrats limit the number of amendments that could be added and the debate?